1 Kings 12
Rehoboam Causes Separation Between the Tribes
1- And Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.
2- And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it, while he was yet in Egypt (for he had fled from the face of King Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt),
3- They sent and called him: and Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
4- Thy father made our yoke heavy: now therefore lighten the grievous bondage of thy father, and the heavy yoke which he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
5- And he said unto them, Go your way by the third day, and come again unto me. And the people departed.
6- Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who stood before Solomon his father while he was still alive, saying, "What do you advise that we answer this people?"
7- And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to this people today, and serve them, and speak good words in return, then they will be your servants forever."
8- But he forsook the advice that the elders had advised him, and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.
9- And he said to them, "What do you advise that we answer this people who spoke to me, saying, 'Lighten the yoke that your father put on us'?"
10- And the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, "This is what you should say to this people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke very heavy, but you lighten it from us.' Thus you shall say to him, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins.’
11 So then, though my father laid a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke. My father punished you with stripes, but I will punish you with scorpions.
12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.”
13 And the king answered the people harshly, for he had forsaken the advice that the elders had given him.
14 And he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, ‘My father made your yoke heavier, but I will add to your yoke. My father punished you with stripes, but I will punish you with scorpions.’
15 So the king would not listen to the people; for this rebellion was from the Lord, to confirm the word that the Lord had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.